January 27, 2019 “To imagine that some ‘thing’ – food, sex, power, money, material possession, a lover, a child – will make you happy is to deceive yourself. Only something as vast and deep as your real self can make you truly and lastingly happy” – Sri Nisargadatta Majaraj, 20thcentury Hindu sage Who is your …
Normality is highly over-rated
January 13, 2019 “The pursuit of normality is the ultimate sacrifice of potential.” Faith Jegede Cole In fact, the pursuit of normality has the potential to be the death of you. Normality is defined as “the condition of being normal; the state of being usual, typical, or expected”. In other words, like everyone else. The …
Thank You
January 1, 2019 Wishing you a 2019 that is filled with moments of joy and genuine optimism, amidst the challenges that are a part of each of our lives. Thank you for your continued interest in the messages that Seedlings attempts to convey. Your emails and comments are always heart-warming and often surprising. I believe …
The Rabbit-hole of Unsolicited Advice-giving
December 30, 2018 J.R.R. Tolkien said, “Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill.” We like to think we are supportive, loving, and kind. Which certainly we often are. We are also self-centered, insecure, and sometimes downright thoughtless and unkind. When your friend or partner …
Transform your relationship with time
December 16, 2018 What is your relationship with time? Is it your friend, or your enemy? Is time something to embrace, or something to conquer? Do you sometimes find yourself racing to get through a task so that you can finally enjoy your ‘life’? Or waiting with baited breath for the end of the workday, …
The gift of being ‘not special’
December 2, 2018 I have been struggling with a feeling that I shared with a friend. The feeling was discomfort and it came from the idea that at times I have the thought that I’m ‘better than’ someone else. It was difficult to talk about without wanting to back-track, explain, or justify myself. It can …
We’re Better at Not Listening Than We Think
November 11, 2018 Listening isn’t that complicated. It’s just really hard. We have such a powerful drive to be heard and to feel understood that it becomes almost impossible to listen to, much less understand, someone else. At the same time, true listening is a skill we can sharpen with time and practice. In order to …
Simple, med-free antidote to anxiety
October 28, 2018 Feeling tense, anxious, overwhelmed and out of control? Here’s a simple method to calm yourself, without meds, in literally seconds. Breathe all the way out. That’s it. The usual response when someone expresses anxious feelings is to tell them to take a breath. Looking for anything that might help, we do exactly …
No Light Without the Dark
October 14, 2018 Spine surgery two weeks ago has redirected most of my energy toward recovery, leaving me with just enough brain power to pen a few thoughts. Recovery is defined as return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength. I’ve been having a hard time imagining ‘normal’. Instead of forcing something I …
Self-reflection doesn’t mean grabbing a mirror
September 30, 2018 Over the last year I have had plenty of time for self-reflection. I’ve been less mobile due to a car accident that was both a blessing and a curse. The mixed blessings are that I lost a car I loved, but I have a great new car with every safety feature known …